All articles by Michelle Cohen

Michelle is a New York-based writer and content strategist who has worked extensively with lifestyle brands like Seventeen, Country Living, Harper’s Bazaar and iVillage. In addition to being a copywriter for a digital media agency she writes about culture, New York City neighborhoods, real estate, style, design and technology among other topics. She has lived in a number of major US cities on both coasts and in between and loves all things relating to urbanism and culture.
From the land of lofts, this bright $1.3M DUMBO space awaits your room-shifting skills
July 14, 2017

From the land of lofts, this bright $1.3M DUMBO space awaits your room-shifting skills

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While Soho and DUMBO might have to fight it out over which was the more original loft neighborhood, there's no doubt that they brought living in a big, airy, open former industrial space, with maximum flexibility and minimum furniture, to a whole new level of cool. This loft at 50 Bridge Street in the Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood brings both loft and luxury living up-to-date, and at a $1.3 millon price it doesn't rule out the entire creative class.
Get the loft tour
Dry ice and solar power to be used in city’s $32M rat battle
July 13, 2017

Dry ice and solar power to be used in city’s $32M rat battle

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Mayor Bill de Blasio declared Wednesday that he wanted "more rat corpses" in a $32 million crusade to rid the city's most plagued neighborhoods of the scurrying scourge. The New York Times reports that parts of lower Manhattan, the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn and the Grand Concourse in the Bronx are the focus of the latest campaign that hopes to reduce the number of rats in those areas by 70 percent by the close of 2018. Among the battle's newly-forged weapons are 336 $7,000 solar-powered rat-proof garbage bins and an EPA-approved–and apparently very effective–method of killing rats in their holes using dry ice.
Psst...hey...pizza over here
One of NYC’s rare rooftop ‘cottages’ is for sale, asking $3.5M in the East Village
July 13, 2017

One of NYC’s rare rooftop ‘cottages’ is for sale, asking $3.5M in the East Village

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The listing calls the two-unit, three-story property that tops the condominium building at 72 East 1st Street "the most unique property in the East Village," and while it may not be the entire city's most interesting, it's definitely among them. The lower unit is a full-floor penthouse duplex, above which is perched a perfect replica of a New England cottage. The property is for sale for $3.5 million; while much has been written about the city's handful of rooftop cabins and cottages, they rarely appear on the market. In this case, the Nantucket-style cottage is an artists' studio, which makes it even cooler.
Check out this little sky cottage
First look at Central Park Tower’s palatial amenity spaces and apartment layouts

Central Park Tower renderings (Extell / AS+GG)

July 12, 2017

First look at Central Park Tower’s palatial amenity spaces and apartment layouts

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We expected that Central Park Tower, the city's tallest-tower-to-be swiftly rising at 225 West 57th Street, would be giving Midtown record-smashers like 432 Park Avenue a run for their trophy-tower money. And now newly-revealed details uncovered from the building's EB-5 brochure offer a first glimpse of what the upcoming supertall's rivals could be up against. The preliminary overseas marketing images spotted by CityRealty show off the 1,550-foot-tall building's apartment layouts and the ultra-luxe amenity spaces that will sit high above the hotel and Nordstrom, the building's flagship retail tenant. Developer Gary Barnett's new condo development is the most expensive ever attempted in the city and is projecting a $4 billion sellout including retail and hotel tenants.
Sky palaces and amazing amenities this way
For $1.2M this little Bed-Stuy townhouse is ready for front porch rocking and backyard croquet
July 12, 2017

For $1.2M this little Bed-Stuy townhouse is ready for front porch rocking and backyard croquet

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Located on one of those charmingly scruffy Bed-Stuy streets that seems to span three centuries with some "Little House on the Prairie" thrown in, this seriously detached house at 659 Madison Street, though it's only two stories high and 2,244 square feet, sits on a 25-by-100-foot lot. Asking $1.2 million, the three-bedroom home is still a lot bigger than the average condo–and what condo comes with a wrap-around porch? Though the listing says it's a single-family, it's actually a two-unit building, so there's even income potential.
Have a look around
July 11, 2017

Built from the ground up, this Hamptons retreat combines nature’s beauty and paradise imagined

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This Sagaponack, NY home might just be the perfect antidote for the summer of hell; it would definitely make an insufferable commute worth it. Summerhill Landscapes, Steven Harris Architects and Rees Roberts + Partners designed the idyllic Hamptons retreat on a swath of meadowland where the tall grass is never far from the sea on the East End of Long Island.
See more of this Southampton summer vision
Sit by a crackling fire in this old-fashioned Greenwich Village co-op, asking $1.4M
July 11, 2017

Sit by a crackling fire in this old-fashioned Greenwich Village co-op, asking $1.4M

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"Old-fashioned" can have any number of meanings: a euphemism for stodgy, or a signifier of cutesy and intentionally low-fi, for example. But the landmarked pair of 1883 Greenwich Village luxury co-op buildings named Portsmouth and Hampshire at 38-50 West 9th Street are exactly that–old fashioned–with no hidden subtext and plenty of charm. Rich in pre-war detail with two working fireplaces (summer will be over before you know it!), this one-bedroom apartment is up for sale for the first time in over forty years–and with the exception of important upgrades like a washer-dryer, and a $1.395 million asking price, it probably hasn't changed much over that time.
Have a look
Interactive map reveals how your daily commute time compares with the nation’s worst
July 10, 2017

Interactive map reveals how your daily commute time compares with the nation’s worst

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For something to ponder while trapped in subway hell or highway gridlock, a detailed visualization by statistician Chase Sawyer shows typical commute times clocked in every U.S. county, based on census data from 2011-2015. Citylab reports on the findings revealed therein; for example, we probably could guess that the top 10 easy-peasy commutes were in Alaska (where you can always find a seat on the subway), but you may not have guessed that Pike County, Pennsylvania has the worst transit time at an average of 44 minutes.
Find out how your daily trek stacks up
Rent this five-bedroom West Village dream townhouse for $25K a month
July 9, 2017

Rent this five-bedroom West Village dream townhouse for $25K a month

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If you dream of living in a West Village townhouse with lofty, renovated rooms and charm-filled outdoor spaces, this 1845 beauty at 13 Gay Street could be your summer find. At $25,000 a month, that's $5,000 per bedroom, though it's not the sort of spot where you'd expect to find a bargain. At 19 feet wide with four stories of living space, the quintessential historic home has both original details and dreamy modern conveniences.
Take the four-story tour
An architect’s 1969 nuclear shelter plan shows a mini-Manhattan built thousands of feet underground
July 7, 2017

An architect’s 1969 nuclear shelter plan shows a mini-Manhattan built thousands of feet underground

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The 1960s Cold War years were America's peak fear/fantasy period as far as the threat of nuclear weapons being deployed. Related scenarios played heavily in science fiction works and frequently surfaced in art and writing. On occasion the line between sci-fi and urban planning tends to blur, at least in hindsight; such is the case for architect and city planner Oscar Newman's probably tongue-in-cheek vision of an enormous spherical underground replica of Manhattan located thousands of feet below the city itself, to be switched into action in the event of a nuclear event. Atlas Obscura reveals Newman's fantastical map to a subterranean metropolis where New Yorkers would wait out the fallout.
Head underground for a look-see
Fashion designer Reem Acra lists Chelsea condo combo with dramatic art for $5.5M
July 7, 2017

Fashion designer Reem Acra lists Chelsea condo combo with dramatic art for $5.5M

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Fashion designer Reem Acra is selling her 3,200-square-foot spread in the Chelsea Atelier at 245 Seventh Avenue, Luxury Listings reports. The Lebanese-born designer, who made news for having created First Lady Melania Trump's inauguration-eve dinner gown, purchased two apartments in the building nearly two decades ago. The sprawling, loft-like space, asking $5.5 million, features dramatic art on the walls and ceilings including a wall-sized photo featuring a model wearing one of the designer's wedding dresses that was used in an ad campaign.
Take the grand tour
Locals employ new zoning strategy to keep skyscrapers from rising in Midtown East

New rendering of the entrance to 430 East 58th Street, also known as Sutton 58. Photo: Thomas Juul-Hansen

July 6, 2017

Locals employ new zoning strategy to keep skyscrapers from rising in Midtown East

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In what they're calling an "unprecedented citizens' application," the East River 50s Alliance, a Sutton Place/Midtown community group, has mounted a renewed campaign to oppose an 800-foot tall condo tower that's rising at 430 East 58th Street, the Wall Street Journal reports. As 6sqft previously reported, the developers of the new tower, Gamma Real Estate, closed on the $86 million site earlier this year in a bankruptcy sale and hired Danish-born architect Thomas Juul-Hansen to design the new skyscraper. The group has filed an application for a zoning change that calls for a ban on tall towers in a 10-square-block area; developers regularly file for zoning changes that cover only the property they're looking to build on.
Find out more
$2.5M Red Hook house has a Cali boho vibe–and an outdoor kitchen
July 6, 2017

$2.5M Red Hook house has a Cali boho vibe–and an outdoor kitchen

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Topanga Canyon retreat? Stinson Beach surf shack? If you guessed either you'd be wrong, but this fully-detached single-family home at 71 Dikeman Street in Red Hook, asking $2.5 million, definitely has a California bohemian vibe that's perfect for the laid-back waterfront neighborhood. In addition to a well-executed renovation, the two-story house has a 50-foot landscaped garden with an outdoor kitchen that's the picture of summer leisure living.
Tour this laid-back beach shack
Tenant holdout snarls developer’s plan to build Billionaire’s Row tower

Image via Google Street View

July 5, 2017

Tenant holdout snarls developer’s plan to build Billionaire’s Row tower

By
Image via Google Street View With a legendary tenants' rights lawyer on board, a longtime leaseholder is standing fast against a developer's 'dream tower' plans, claiming their business has a valid lease and is being wrongfully evicted, according to the New York Times. Irving and Samuel Morano, the antiques dealers who own Metropolitan Fine Arts and Antiques, are the largest remaining tenant at 10 West 57th Street, a prime location opposite Bergdorf Goodman. 89-year-old developer Sheldon Solow has been amassing properties along the "Billionaire's Row" strip, where the Solow Building, his office tower at 9 West 57th Street stands, since 1977. With grand plans in place to erect a sleek Skidmore Owings & Merrill-designed 54-story hotel and condominium tower, Solow has evicted tenants, erected scaffolding and started demolition on one of the properties along the strip.
Find out more
Pretty pre-war co-op in Fort Greene has two bedrooms and stylish details for under $1M
July 5, 2017

Pretty pre-war co-op in Fort Greene has two bedrooms and stylish details for under $1M

By
In the heart of the lovely neighborhood of Fort Greene, Brooklyn at 141 Lafayette Avenue, just a block from Fort Greene Park and a few minutes from BAM, this graciously-sized and thoughtfully-appointed pre-war co-op is asking $995,000. With two real bedrooms, central A/C, and a nice renovation, that seems like a pretty good deal for this pricey neighborhood.
Take a look around
Escape to a Bali retreat that’s no further than the Hudson Valley
July 3, 2017

Escape to a Bali retreat that’s no further than the Hudson Valley

By
If you're looking to get out of town but you're uninspired by the usual country inns, historic schoolhouses, and rustic log cabins, this unusual Hudson Valley vacation property could be just the tranquil escape for you (and up to nine of your closest friends). The Hudson Valley Bali House Retreat in Rosendale, New York combines a country setting with details that were inspired by vacations in Bali and Thailand. Built using materials imported from Indonesia, this exotic compound makes visitors forget they're only about 90 minutes from Midtown.
More this way
July 2, 2017

VIDEO: Drone footage takes this love letter to New York City to a new level

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From the concrete canyons of Midtown to verdant outcroppings deep in Central Park and everything in between, NYC unfolds in a suitably epic series of moments in this live-action love letter created by Wasatch aerial drone photography specialists. A drone camera sails above it all on metal wings, capturing the city, its architecture and its creatures large and small at rest, work and play.
READ MORE
Lady Gaga tours a $6M oceanfront home at Montauk’s Gurney’s Residences
June 29, 2017

Lady Gaga tours a $6M oceanfront home at Montauk’s Gurney’s Residences

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Lady Gaga–a.k.a. Stefani Germanotta–was recently spotted frolicking in the Hamptons with boyfriend/CAA-agent-to-the-pop-stars Christian Carino; the New York Post reports the pair were also seen touring a property in Montauk. The singer was apparently smitten enough with a $5.9 million three-bedroom unit at Gurney's Residences oceanfront resort at 272 Old Montauk Highway to return for a second look.
Take a peek
$3.5M classic Noho loft has just enough luxe to make it a new-condo competitor
June 29, 2017

$3.5M classic Noho loft has just enough luxe to make it a new-condo competitor

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On the seventh floor of a Noho loft building at 46 Great Jones Street overlooking the fashionable neighborhood's cobblestone streets, this 2,000 square-foot loft-lover's dream of a co-op contains plenty of loft details and just enough dazzle to appeal to buyers of a $3.5 million properties in 21st-century Manhattan. Celebrity cachet is included: 6sqft just reported that Sheryl Crow's super-cool loft in the same building just sold for $2.72 million.
Take the tour
Map: Where to watch the Macy’s fireworks this July 4th
June 28, 2017

Map: Where to watch the Macy’s fireworks this July 4th

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Here's a handy guide outlining some prime spots for experiencing Macy's Fourth of July live fireworks extravaganza this Tuesday evening; in addition, the folks that put on the show have provided a helpful interactive neighborhood finder so you're well situated when things go boom. Take a fun quiz here, then find out the best spots to watch from. Or just check out some prime spots here.
More info this way
$1M Upper West Side townhouse duplex has a terrace and a fireplace for all-season character
June 28, 2017

$1M Upper West Side townhouse duplex has a terrace and a fireplace for all-season character

By
A one-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side for around a million seems almost too good to be true as it is; this townhouse duplex at 172 West 82nd Street is all that plus a terrace and a wood-burning fireplace for $1.01 million. While the interior reads more East Village than Upper West with two walls of exposed brick, a fresh renovation is uptown-efficient. This walk-up co-op is in a charming bay-windowed brownstone on an equally charming tree-lined block.
Get a closer look
Recent breakdown spurs demand for better subway escape plans
June 27, 2017

Recent breakdown spurs demand for better subway escape plans

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After experiencing a big dose of the NYC “train pain” that seems to be reaching epidemic proprtions lately, subway passenger Michael Sciaraffo has launched a campaign against the MTA for what he feels are lousy safety standards. After being “trapped on a sweltering F train" that got stuck in a tunnel during a recent “colossal breakdown,” Sciaraffo was mad enough to demand that straphangers be provided with a better protocol for escaping to safety in the event of a mass emergency. The city's already-strained subway system moved 5.6 million passengers a week 2016, leading to a reported 70,000 delays per month over the last five years according to NBC New York.
So how do we get out of this thing?
With two terraces and a fireplace, this $1.6M Chelsea duplex feels like a compact house
June 27, 2017

With two terraces and a fireplace, this $1.6M Chelsea duplex feels like a compact house

By
This pint-sized penthouse perched atop an elevator building at 368 West 23rd Street in West Chelsea manages to pack everything you need into two levels of renovated, sun-filled space and look good doing it. Asking $1.6 million, the one-bedroom co-op is freshly renovated with two full baths, new hardwood floors, central air conditioning, a wood-burning fireplace, and a washer/dryer. But it's the impressive expanses of terrace that make the biggest impression.
Get a closer look
Cuomo unveils winning design for NYC’s first public monument to LGBT people
June 26, 2017

Cuomo unveils winning design for NYC’s first public monument to LGBT people

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To coincide with pride weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that artist Anthony Goicolea had been chosen to design the first official monument to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to be commissioned by the State of New York. According to the New York Times, the statue will be built near the waterfront piers in Hudson River Park. The monument's design features nine boulders bisected in places with glass, which can act as a prism, emitting a rainbow pattern. Governor Cuomo formed the LGBT Memorial Commission after the deadly attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. in 2016; A request for designs for a new memorial went out in October of this year. Hudson River Park's waterfront piers have figured prominently in the history of the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Find out more
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